Syllabus
VC 111 Intro to Visual Communications
Chemeketa Community College
Tuesday & Thursday 9:30 AM–11:20 AM (CRN #30650)
Fall 2025 • Four credits
In-Person Course • 4/225
Course Website: https://hoelter.chemeketa.vc/vc111
Instructor: Peter Hoelter
Contact Information
E-mail:
Phone/Voicemail: 503.399.6475
Office Location: Building 4/221C
Office Hours: Mondays 1:30 PM–3:30 PM; Tuesdays 11:30 AM–1:30 PM; Wednesdays 8:30 AM–9:30 AM
Course Description
Presents an overview of visual communication design. Includes explorations in problem-solving, creative strategies, ethics, and potential career paths.
Prerequisites
Admission into Visual Communications program; or consent of instructor.
Course Objectives and Process
This class is designed to help you explore thinking and working like a designer. You will have many in-class exercises as well as long-term projects. There will be projects in hands-on making, creativity and problem solving, and well as in-class individual and group activities. You will also research educational and career paths within the field of visual communications.
Not everyone will wear the hat of a graphic designer, but your work here will help you creatively engage in and be part of innovative solutions in everything that you do. Many projects have multiple solutions. It is up to you to participate, ask questions and be creative within project guidelines, not just follow directions.
About Creativity
Cultivate creativity in your life outside of class. Be prepared to talk about your design choices verbally and in writing. Be prepared to sometimes be uncomfortable in phases of the creative process. If you are serious about this as a career path, do more than is expected. Solving creative problems often means working through phases of uncertainty. When you solve these problems and come out on the other side, it’s very satisfying! Be curious, adventurous, and kind. A key component to all communication is empathy.
Class Content
Class will include guest speakers, group discussions, presentations, film, lectures and demonstrations. Reading, research and out of class assignments (projects and exercises) are also included.
Student Evaluation
The class is comprised primarily of classroom instruction reinforced by in-class and out-of-class exercises and in-depth projects, all of which will count toward the final grade. Attendance, participation, and professionalism all contribute to your final grade.
Performance Based Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
- Recognize how visual communication transmits information through symbols and imagery.
- Explore and apply strategies visual communication designers use in practice.
- Use strategies to participate as a member of a creative team.
- Recognize ethics and copyright issues in the field of visual communication.
- Utilize skills and resources necessary to research and communicate information about visual communications career paths.
Required Texts
The following textbook is required for this course:
Becoming a Graphic and Digital Designer (5th Edition), Heller, Steven. (Wiley )
Optional Texts
The following book is completely optional, but it's a fun, creative, and interactive introduction to the field of graphic design.
Graphic Design Play Book, Cure, Sophie & Seggio, Barbara. (Laurence King Publishing)
A list of other texts can be found on the References section of the course website.
Required Materials
This is a basic list to get started. Students may need to purchase other materials as projects dictate.
- Notebook for class notes/handouts/etc.
- Materials for in-class assignments as requested by the instructor
- Funds in your campus printing account (PaperCut). Off-campus printing may be required for some projects
- Personal 100’s project will require individual supplies based on your project.
Grading :: Points
680 points are available in this class.
| Course Component | Points | % |
|---|---|---|
| Projects (60–200 points; varies by project) |
440 points | 64% |
| Exercises (5 at 20 points; 1 at 40 points) |
140 points | 21% |
| In-class Critiques & Participation (10 points per week) |
100 points | 15% |
Grading :: Scale
| Grade | Level | Point Range | Standard | Grade Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 90-100% | 612 – 680 | Excellent | 4.0 |
| B | 80-89% | 544 – 611 | Very Capable | 3.0 |
| C | 70-79% | 476 –543 | Competent | 2.0 |
| D | 60-69% | 408 – 475 | Limited Success | 1.0 |
| F | 0-59% | 407 and lower | Failure | 0.0 |
| I | Incomplete – granted only under extenuating circumstances and must be discussed before the last week of class. |
0.0 | ||
Late Work
All assigned exercises and projects are due either at the beginning of class (in the case of homework exercises and projects) or at the end of class (in the case of lab exercises) as specified by the course calendar. Late course work will be accepted only for partial credit. Exercise and project grades will be reduced by 20% (two letter grades) for each class period the assignment is late. Points for missed lab exercises can only be made up outside of class and only for partial credit. Course work more than two class periods late is accepted, but will only be marked as “Completed” and will not have a point value. You will not be able to make up missed quizzes or exams.
An extension due to extenuating circumstances such as health or other personal problems can be obtained by receiving permission from the instructor, either prior to or after the fact, by submitting appropriate written documentation to the college or by contacting the instructor directly. Please refer to the Chemeketa Community College guidelines for further information.
Attendance and Participation
Class attendance is an important part of the course experience. Much of the course content is only available by attending class. You are responsible for obtaining any notes that you missed during an absence, either from a classmate or from the class website. Participation in class discussions, labs, and student professionalism are all factored into your classroom grade. If you must miss a class, please notify me, either by e-mail or in person, prior to class so arrangements can be made.
Class session recordings
Class sessions may be recorded and made available to enrolled students on our course Canvas page. This will be both an audio and a visual recording. This means that by attending class, either in-person or by Zoom, you are agreeing to have your video and/or image recorded. If you participate by speaking, you are agreeing to have your voice recorded. If you participate by making comments in the chat feature, you are agreeing to have your name and comments recorded. For Zoom class sessions, if you do not want your profile or video image recorded, turn off your video and remove your profile image. If you do not want your voice recorded, mute your microphone. If you do not want your name and comment(s) recorded, do not use the chat feature. If you are unable to communicate with me during the class meeting due to your wish not to be recorded, please contact me to make other arrangements.
Lab Policies
Cell phones must be turned to silent mode during class. If a call must be answered, take the call outside of the classroom and student work spaces. Lab workstations should only be used for class work—Web browsing, e-mail, game play, video-watching, messaging and other non-class related computer activities should be reserved for other computers on campus. Expect the lab computers to be turned off during certain lectures throughout the quarter. No food or drink is allowed in the computer labs. Refer to the Visual Communications Student Handbook document for a complete list of lab guidelines.
Use of AI
AI is here, today, in our graphic design world. Photoshop 2025 has generative AI built right in as a tool alongside Curves and masking. As a student training to enter the creative services workforce, you must learn how to appropriately incorporate AI elements with original content, both graphical and text-based. While AI is unlikely to play a major role in this course, be sure to follow any instructions given on a project or exercise handout regarding the expectations around the use of AI. If not specified, assume that the use of AI is not allowed in a given assignment. However, if you see a potential, positive application of it, reach out to the instructor for clarification before using one of these tools, and always give credit to the engine that generates content for you.
Institutional Syllabus
Chemeketa’s Institutional Syllabus is a living document designed to consolidate and communicate essential information, resources, and policies that are universal to all Chemeketa students. In addition to items included in the instructor's syllabus, all information listed on the institutional syllabus applies to this course. You can ready the full institutional syllabus here:
Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is an important building block of any learning community. Students and instructors demonstrate academic honesty when they participate truthfully, fairly, and respectfully. Being dishonest in your academic work not only interferes with your personal growth as a learner, it has a negative impact on your class community.
Chemeketa takes academic dishonesty seriously. If you are found in violation of Chemeketa's academic honesty policy (POL 5020), you may be subject to the disciplinary process as reflected in Chemeketa's academic honesty procedure (PRO 5020) and the Student Rights and Responsibilities. Violations of academic honesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, falsification, tampering, and getting inappropriate assistance. Violations also include using any form of generative artificial intelligence (such as text, image, or code generators like ChatGPT or Bing Chat) to complete your assignments or exams for this class, unless your instructor specifically allows it.
To learn more about academic honesty, visit the Academic Honesty webpage.
Diversity
We are a college community enriched by the diversity of our students, staff, and community members. Each individual and group has the potential to contribute in our learning environment. Each has dignity. To diminish the dignity of one is to diminish the dignity of us all.
Student Accessibility Services
Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty, and Student Accessibility Services. If you have already been approved for accommodations and requested them for this term, both you and I receive a Letter of Accommodation by e-mail. It is important that we discuss the accommodations as early in the term as possible. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through Student Accessibility Services should phone 503.399.5192, visit the office in Building 2/174, or visit the Student Accessibility Services website.
Affirmative Action
It is the policy of Chemeketa Community College and its Board that there will be no discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship status, pregnancy and related conditions, family relationship, veteran’s status, disabilities and tobacco usage in any educational programs, activities or employment.
Persons having questions about equal opportunity/affirmative action should contact the Affirmative Action Officer at 4000 Lancaster Dr. NE, Salem, Oregon 97309-7070, or call 503.399.4784. To request this publication in an alternative format, please call 503.399.5192.